Wednesday, 25 April 2012

This blog has been a monument to the people I love. But now almost none
are left. My family consists of two guinea pigs, however lovely. My
mother is in the hospital and my partner decided his grief after his
father's death and hassle at work is enough. My bestest friend may be gone. I do not know if I can continue writing. I do not want to do
anything anymore. Blogs are supposed to be upbeat, I have no heart for
it anymore. Thank you, you are all very kind leaving lovely comments.
Laurent, P. Gayle Tapp, Curtis Roberts, Elizabeth Avedon, Davis Toms, Gésbi, Kay L. Davies and many more - thank you!

Monday, 23 April 2012

"Do nothing because it is righteous or praiseworthy, or noble, to do so; do nothing because it seems good to do so; only do that which you must do, and which you cannot do in any other way." Ursula K. Le Guin

Friday, 20 April 2012

The shopping hiatus makes me look more. Today, a rather delightful haori. It scares me to see how much of our economy that's been built by purchase a little item here and a little item there. We seem to have to make our homes more shabby chick, cuter, softer, whatever. Is it a kind of protection? Does the shopping work like a drug? What about the people who have very little?

I strongly believe in "museum quality utilitarian" that will last for years. Things that will give the greatest pleasure every time we use them - and good friends and a nice guinea pig to share my home. Ola the guinea pig may well get a little friend soon, by the way. They are social animals and we want the best possible life for him. He gives us great joy and relaxation every day.

Tuesday, 17 April 2012

Today I got a belated birthday present, I had to buy it myself and I disliked the buying very much. Of course, getting a new garment is nice, but it felt like breaking my vow. It seems like I have to keep this up properly, I really like the process.

Sunday, 15 April 2012

Just watching the bustle feels like relaxation. I think I see more clearly not seeking the rush of buying and I enjoy deciding what I do like and do not like without thinking of buying it. I do not like much, respect for the Earth demand a high skill in the artisan, so I'm becoming a difficult customer. Flowers are a temptation though, and yarn. A friend might want me to make her a cardigan. I do not miss clothes buying, I'm off ETSY and will cancel Amazon today together with Paypal. I window shop and get shocked by how easily I used to get into the rush of a t-shirt here and a top there just because it was cute and then loose interest in it quite quickly.

A few days ago I read that it is practically considered bad form to have heating in the bathroom floor when living in Berlin. It makes me hopeful. Here it is very usual and I've been worried about not having it. Somehow comforts that are expected can be just too much. We need to get closer to nature.

Thursday, 12 April 2012

My partner and I talked it over, again. He thinks it is a good idea. No more little gifts for him, but he is fine with that.

Today I went past IKEA, took a look inside and got a very real Huxley moment. "Get the IKEA card, spend now, pay later (you bet we charge interest, but we don't tell you that, at least not right now)" Cups and pans, not the kind made to last for years and years in abundance. This year's colours in gift wrapping, so easy to buy as it might come in handy - upbeat, cute and inexpensive. I got four packages of paper napkins. It is something I actually have to have for work. When having pupil's concerts we always have cakes afterwards. I've horded five packages. I wanted to get a stemmed up rosemary tree, but decided it would be shopping for shopping's sake, so no little tree. I do love the availability of beautiful things, and maybe the not so beautiful things too, but it is nice to try not to be part of the shop, throw away "garbage", shop again circle. I wish I could avoid buying the napkins, but I find it somewhat difficult to produce linen napkins for 60 people.

I think I'll stick with my grandmother's iron frying pan though. It is at least 50 years old and quite sturdy.

Tuesday, 10 April 2012

Today is a marvelous day. I'm finally rested enough to rest properly, but that is not my subject.

Lately, due to my vow of doing my very best to have a one year shopping/spending hiatus, I went window shopping, considering, among other things, how much improved H&M's designs are now, and thinking about what I'd like if going on a shopping spree. I also thought of an acquaintance who does quite a power play to be able to do his bit of getting what he wants at any given time. I remember suggesting some cucumber on his glue - sandwich (white bread and lots of cheese, reminds me of glue somehow). No, he didn't feel like it. What was I to say? It was the very best way to get someone to shut up once and for all, one just knows that there is no way of getting the point through. The king had spoken. It was all very entertaining, if not so sad.

So what I would like are a pale pink linen dress and a whole bucket of these - but then - I don't really feel like it, do I?

Monday, 9 April 2012

It is everywhere, this is nothing. I see huge pieces of cardboard and plastic bags. Are we blind? I try not to become too sad. Is this an example of the theory of abundance? We must be blind, thoughtless and blind.

Sunday, 8 April 2012

After a little bath that unfortunately was absolutely necessary, as he seemed to have been jumping up and down on pieces of banana - among other things ... Awfully sticky fur. I did not enjoy it, but he adored the drying, making little "I love" sounds for an hour while I massaged his fur with a towel. Somewhat spoilt? Yes! But it suits him very well.

It is shopping hiatus time. All of a sudden it occurred to me that I can't knit, because then I would have to buy yarn (I almost wrote "yearn" here, that pretty much sums it up). I did count the homemade cardigans, and there are quite a few. I'm finishing a last carding now, soft, soft alpaca wool - I love wool and textiles far too much. I will have to feast my eyes on pictures of haute couture in the mean time and imagine the touch of silk yarn. Luckily I have a vest made with a collar made from sari silk cuttings - how's that for being spoilt?

Somehow I imagine I will get much more time on my hands to do gardening, take photographs, read and jog if I get off ETSY, do not buy movies and get off Amazon once and for all. I also will have more money if I do not buy t-shirts on impulse, stop eating out and just stop buying my partner (sorry for that!) and myself little gifts. I will also have to empty my stash of tea, and that is about time. The general idea is more time on my hands, less money spent, less clutter in the house and a greener, less egoistical life style. Let's see how it works out. I start on the 14TH.

Thursday, 5 April 2012

On the 13TH it is my birthday. My mother asked me to get myself something nice. I got a small artwork and a vegan cookbook. I also made a vow:

no more shopping for a year - exceptions maybe absolutely necessary items of clothing, but no more little gifts to stoke my ego and use just a little more of the world's resources. I will keep you posted about my project. Keeping you posted should keep me in line, hopefully.

Wednesday, 4 April 2012

Last week there was my father in law's funeral in Stavanger. He died after being ill for some time. The family was very brave about it all. I mostly did the dishes and tried to make myself useful. It was interesting to see how things were done, so very differently from what we did when my father died. I liked it a lot - memorial service with much music by J.S.Bach, good speeches, big gathering afterwards, flowers in abundance.